Flu Shot Side Effects

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aw5um

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#173780 5-Jun-2015 23:14

Hi,

About a week ago I got a flu vaccine at my local GP. I don't remember ever having one but apparently I had one as a child. The day after I had it my lower lip started to twitch randomly and still twitches randomly and last night I had a migraine from hell.

When I woke up this morning I still had the migraine (and still have it now) accompainied by aching over my entire body and generally just feeling like I could sleep forever.

Could these symptoms be caused from the vaccine? Has anyone ever experienced this? I know it's frowned upon by docotors to google health related issues, but after reading what some people have suffered after getting the flu vaccine, I'm kinda worried.

When my lip/chin starts twitching I try to block it out of my mind but it's never happened to me before and the only thing I've done differently is get the vaccine.

Your flu vaccine experiences would be informative and I would love to hear about them.

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Vocus

#1318204 5-Jun-2015 23:26

I strongly suggest you call your GP.

Rikkitic

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#1318209 6-Jun-2015 00:01

I would also urge you to get in touch with your GP. Vaccines work by giving you dead or weakened doses of the virus you are being protected against. This stimulates your immune system. It can also sometimes trigger reactions. Also, it takes about two weeks for your immune system to adjust so you can still get the flu during that time (and that sure sounds like what you have). In any case, it is best to check with your GP just to be sure.

For what it is worth, I have been getting flu shots every year for years and have never experienced any kind of reaction at all. This is the case for most people.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

mattwnz

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#1318210 6-Jun-2015 01:00

I would call healthline to begin with, as your GP may be booked out, and they may say you need to go to the after hours. If it does get bad, go to the emergency ward at the hospital. Potentially it could be something bad if a nights sleep didn't get rid of it.

Although apparently you can't get the flu from the jab, I do constantly hear of people who feel poorly for a few weeks afterwards. Some it can be as bad as getting the flu. Perhaps this is just a reaction, or they think they are immune and get in contact with people who really have the flu. Personally I have never got it, as I am not in a high risk job, and there is a cost. High risk people I beleive get it free..

Jase2985

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#1318214 6-Jun-2015 06:58

http://www.influenza.org.nz/safety-influenza-vaccines

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/i/intanza.pdf

MikeB4

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#1318215 6-Jun-2015 07:42

Asking health questions on a Tech forum is like calling for Fire trucks on Facebook. Phone and make an appointment with your Doctor.

andrewNZ

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#1318216 6-Jun-2015 07:46

I'm going to make a statement to clear up one myth. I know its not what you're asking, but this one needs dealing with.

The flu vaccine absolutely 100% cannot give you the flu. If you got sick after it, you were going to get sick anyway.

Q. "But (enter disagreement here)"
A. NO!.

nakedmolerat

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#1318222 6-Jun-2015 09:37

andrewNZ: I'm going to make a statement to clear up one myth. I know its not what you're asking, but this one needs dealing with.

The flu vaccine absolutely 100% cannot give you the flu. If you got sick after it, you were going to get sick anyway.

Q. "But (enter disagreement here)"
A. NO!.

You can't get the flu BUT you can get flu like effects such as fever, soreness, arthralgia etc.

OP - you need to see your doctor. It's common to have side effects from this medication but the serious one is rare. The 'twitching' make me think of tardive dyskinesia but this is unheard of. I need to reiterate that the best person to sort this out is your doctor as you'll need to be assessed.

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sbiddle

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#1318223 6-Jun-2015 09:40

MikeB4: Asking health questions on a Tech forum is like calling for Fire trucks on Facebook. Phone and make an appointment with your Doctor.

That's the best advice - but there are a couple of high profile users on here who are medical doctors!

Batman

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#1318225 6-Jun-2015 10:07

Go to the emergency department ... now

afe66

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#1318237 6-Jun-2015 10:49

nakedmolerat:
andrewNZ: I'm going to make a statementsymptomsclear up one myth. I know its not what you're asking, but this one needs dealing with.

The flu vaccine absolutely 100% cannot give you the flu. If you got sick after it, you were going to get sick anyway.

Q. "But (enter disagreement here)"
A. NO!.

You can't get the flu BUT you can get flu like effects such as fever, soreness, arthralgia etc.

OP - you need to see your doctor. It's common to have side effects from this medication but the serious one is rare. The 'twitching' make me think of tardive dyskinesia but this is unheard of. I need to reiterate that the best person to sort this out is your doctor as you'll need to be assessed.

Another possibility could be the aura has motor component and facial symptoms common with migraines.

(rather than tardive reactions which would be more common with larger muscle groups.)

Either way he needs to see his Dr.

A.

(hoping thread doesn't degenerate into pro anti vac debate)

Batman

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#1318238 6-Jun-2015 10:54

If he normally has migraines how is the vac responsible

MarkHeadroom

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#1318241 6-Jun-2015 11:13

Could be an allergy or intolerance to one of the vaccine ingredients, e.g albumen. But yeah you should get some medical advice if you haven't already.

Sideface

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#1318242 6-Jun-2015 11:21

For what it's worth, my wife and I both had our annual flu shots 2 weeks ago, and had absolutely no local or systemic side effects.

You have a problem, but it's unlikely to be vaccine-related.
Get medical advice.

Sideface